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Bill

HB 3325

INS CD-STUTTERING COVERAGE

104th Regular Session Introduced by Marcus Evans

Illinois bill requiring health insurance plans to cover stuttering treatment and speech-language pathology services as a medical benefit, removing coverage exclusions.

Referred to Rules Committee
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HB 3325

Legislative bill overview

HB 3325 requires insurance companies in Illinois to cover stuttering treatment and related speech-language pathology services. The bill mandates that health insurance plans classify stuttering as a covered medical condition rather than an excluded or cosmetic treatment. This expands insurance obligations to include diagnosis, evaluation, and therapeutic intervention for individuals with stuttering disorders.

Why is this important

Stuttering affects approximately 1% of the U.S. population and can significantly impact educational outcomes, employment prospects, and mental health. Many insurance plans currently exclude or severely limit coverage for stuttering treatment, making evidence-based therapies like speech-language pathology financially inaccessible for families. Mandating coverage could improve treatment access and outcomes while reducing barriers to education and employment for affected individuals.

Potential points of contention

  • Coverage scope and cost: Insurers may argue that mandated coverage increases premiums for all policyholders and may dispute which treatments qualify as medically necessary versus experimental
  • Definition and medical classification: There may be debate over whether stuttering should be classified as a medical condition requiring treatment versus a natural speech variation, affecting insurance obligations
  • Provider qualifications and oversight: Questions about which speech-language pathologists can bill insurance and what quality standards or outcome measures should be required to ensure appropriate care

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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